Which Base had the Last Sentry Dog?

12/17/2008

The Last Sentry Dogs

 

Recently, I received this message from David Priest (Korat 1969-70) concerning information on the last Sentry Dogs.

 

This one was out of my league, and I punted to my resident “Dog Expert” – Monty Moore, VSPA Webmaster.  Here is the exchange and I thought many of you might be interested in this information.

 

Original Message from David Priest:

 

Bill, Over on the "Loring Ramprats" site we are having a discussion about when USAF made the transition to patrol dogs and which base had the last sentry dog. I transitioned in 1971 but do not recall how many patrol dogs were at Loring when I left in 1972.

 

Thanks.

DCP (David Priest)

 

Message Reply from Monty Moore:

 

The very last stateside (actively working) were Army sentry dogs were stationed at Nike – Hawk sites around major cities. The Marines had a few Sentry Dogs in places other than Nam. I had one in a class in 72 or early 73 than went to somewhere in the Med area.

 

In the early 70’s, Army sentry dogs were turned in to the DOD Dog Center and entered in Patrol dog classes. I was teaching Sentry Dogs most of my early years but several times was sent to several PD teams to fill in until a sentry class started. I was there then and it was a barrel of laughs. The patrol dog teams had all the dog bites from retrained. They made the best patrol dogs (if the could be broken down). Many still hit hard and bit like hell.

 

Many students were bit. Patrol dog classes always had more dog bites than sentry classes. Some of the dogs were legendary. King M000 and a dog named Satan were two that I remember.

 

Got in trouble for calling Patrol Dogs, Puppy Dogs. The idiots at Bldg 444 put out in a pass on that calling Patrol dogs that (Puppy Dogs) was a no no. So then I became more vocal.

 

Washington, DC had two old Nike sites that I know of.  One was East of Upper Marlboro, Maryland near the Patuxent River and one in Waldorf, Maryland. I don’t know when they closed but the small housing area were taken over by HUD (for the Upper Marlboro site), and the Waldorf site was transferred to Andrews Air Force Base Housing.

 

Monty Moore – December 15, 2008